The Longreach Yellowbelly ClassicTag | First Published: October 2010

Longreach Yellowbelly Classic Fishing Competition was held on 28-29 August and was once again a huge success.

Competitor numbers exceeded the committee’s expectations with 743 keen anglers entering for the event held on the banks of the Thomson River in Longreach.

The event started on the Friday night with a bevy of entertainment: The yabby races were a huge hit, and had everyone on the edge of their seats until the final yabby crossed the line; Daniel MacNamara competed gloriously in the final heat for the junior roll the swag event and Luke Beard in the adults section showed his sprinting and rolling ability to be extremely accurate; Lucky draw of a sports bag and fishing accessories also went to Daniel MacNamara in the juniors and Gary Petkie in the adults.

Saturday fishing saw a slow start but by 10am the sun was out and lots fish were on the bite. A total of 84 fish were measured in for their longest lengths and a total of 30 yabbies were weighed. These numbers have no bearing on the total amount of fish caught during the weekend.

Yabbies were in big demand at Saturday’s auction before the race. Two races were held and once again the audience was screaming with enthusiasm and words of encouragement at their racing yabby.

After several heats and re-runs in the junior roll the swag event Dawn King-Trail showed the boys how it was done running victoriously to the finish line and Jeff Clews of Alpha was victorious for the adults from 14 competitors.

The Longreach Fishing Club would like to express their gratitude to all who assisted in disassembling Apex Riverside Park after the presentations and thanks all competitors and sponsors involved in the event. – Longreach Yellowbelly Classic

Winners

JUNIOR CATEGORY

Longest Yellowbelly:

50.7cm

Miss Charlie Wilson (Aramac)

Longest Catfish:

49.5cm

Joshua Cooper (Charters Towers)

Longest Bream:

34.2cm

Gary Cutting (Longreach)

Longest Barcoo Grunter:

Non recorded

Heaviest Yabby:

416g

Miss Charlie Wilson (Aramac)

ADULT CATEGORY

Longest Yellowbelly:

53.1cm

Brendan Williams (Winton)

Longest catfish:

45.4cm

Leon Taylor (Augathella)

Longest Bream:

34.7cm

Rita Wallis (Charleville)

Longest Barcoo Grunter:

38.3cm

Daniel Johns (Charleville)

Reads: 2265

Adult Category winner for the Longest Grunter title was Daniel Johns with a 38.3cm specimen.

Gary Cutting took out Junior Longest Bream title with his 34.2cm fish.

Charlie Wilson won two categories in the Junior section. She took home Heaviest Yabby, 416g, and the Longest Yellowbelly, 50.7cm.